Was Phoebe really a deacon? with Denny Burk

August 06, 2026
00:00 01:11:21
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In today's episode, Becket Cook talks with theologian and author Denny Burk who joins the show to unpack his new book Mere Complementarianism: Male and Female in the Image of God. Discover the true biblical meaning of complementarianism—rooted in the Danvers Statement—and how it differs from soft complementarianism, hard complementarianism, egalitarianism, and biblical patriarchy. Burk explains why men and women, equally made in the image of God, have distinct yet complementary roles in marriage, the home, and the church, drawing deeply from Genesis 1–3, Ephesians 5, 1 Timothy 2, and 1 Corinthians 11.

They tackle the most pressing questions: Who can preach on Sunday mornings, teach Sunday school, or serve as seminary professors and deacons? What does the Bible say about women, head coverings, and Phoebe? Why does the path to LGBTQ affirmation almost always begin with an egalitarian hermeneutic? And why is complementarianism a vital second-order doctrine that protects the gospel itself? Whether you’re seeking clarity on biblical gender roles, male headship, or the dangers of feminist reinterpretations of Scripture, this conversation delivers a clear, Scripture-saturated defense of God’s good design for men and women.

Denny Burk's Book: https://a.co/d/01pXWLpY

The Becket Cook Show Ep. 249

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Meet Your Host
Becket Cook was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. After graduating from college, Becket moved to Los Angeles. He worked as a production designer with the top photographers and directors in the world on fashion shoots for magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and for ad campaigns such as Gap, L'Oréal Paris, and Nike.

Becket lived as a gay man his entire adult life until he came to faith in Christ in 2009. He has lived all over the world in major cities such as Rome, Vienna, and Tokyo, and spends much of his time in ministry, speaking at churches, universities.

Becket graduated from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in 2017 with a Master of Arts in Theology. His book, A Change of Affection: A Gay Man's Incredible Story of Redemption, with a foreword by Francis Chan, published by Thomas Nelson, released July 30, 2019.
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